robin1234

For those who don't mind missing Christmas Day, travel on Dec 25 itself is often a bargain. We've done it many times (we're Jews/Atheists so don't celebrate or anything.)
Most recently, I booked a round-trip to LHR on Christmas Day just 15 hours in advance (because of a bereavement) and got a very cheap price (comparatively - obviously the surcharges push up all prices.)
As for the summer, we've decided to stay home for positive reasons, enjoying the garden & going for local cycle rides & hang out at the town beach. Also, I have major "summer projects" at work so would rather stay here..
Then, I'm planning a trip to the UK in September which is a much nicer time to go than the summer! I'm now hooked on Family History so want to visit the National Archives at Kew and the Society of Genealogists Library.

Ridski

I've flown out on Christmas Day, it's fun, and you get turkey on the plane, and they let the kids wish everyone a merry Christmas on the tannoy. However, I'd completely forgotten they jack up the taxi prices to Bank Holiday prices, we were royally screwed.

robin1234

One time we arrived at LHR on Boxing Day morning, having booked & paid in advance for a subcompact car at Hertz. When we pulled into the Hertz lot, it was empty -- except for about 25 Kia 8-seater vans. Other customers, Hertz told them they would have to wait (probably several hours) for a car to come in, as they had reservations but hadn't prepaid. Us, they told us we had a "free upgrade" to the 8-seater diesel van. Oh Joy!! I've never used Hertz since (Europcar has never let me down.)

ian-mstm

Nope! Sheila and I are headed to the UK in 3 weeks!

Ian

Bluegrass Lass

OH and I booked tickets in March to fly to Edinburgh for 2 weeks in August. Was able to use skymiles to get one ticket (mostly) free. Even then, I was told it was a good thing we bought them then because flights were filling up already. Just yesterday, though, Delta called and told me that the intinerary had changed - apparently the flight from Edinburg to JFK was leaving 3 hrs later, so we had to change our connection from JFK to Cincinnati. I wonder if they cancelled a flight from Edin. to JFK since there was a 3 hr difference? If so, guess that means their planes aren't filling like they said in March, or people have cancelled.

md95065

Same applies to Thanksgiving - outbound flight from the US to the UK on Thanksgiving Day itself have, in the past, usually been a good deal.

lansbury

Don't get a chance to go back. Those friends and family who like summer vacations book their rooms then. Those that like sking and snowboarding come in January or February. Never enough people back in the UK to visit.

Bladerunner

I just got back. Was paying three-eighty, or $7.50, for a pint of lager in a normal London pub. A pint and a glass of wine was almost $20.

Cheapest flights are with Zoom from to Gatwick. If you are flexible, it's worth bidding with Priceline. I paid $650 with AA via a Priceline bid.

AA is great. It's mostly Yanks who fly with them, so the queue at immigration is often longer for USCs than it is for foeigners. I sailed through with no queue at all.

AmerLisa

Been there, got the t-shirt and came home today. I'm knackered!

Jerseygirl

Did you have a good time?

Edit: It's OK...I've just read your thread in the Lounge.

AmerLisa

Its hard to sum up two weeks in a short post, isn't it?

BlightyBoy

We have bought our plane tickets. I hear about surcharges, is it possible that they will make us pay more for the increased price of fuel even though we've paid already?

Giantaxe

The same true going to the UK in the couple of days before Thanksgiving. Americans are too busy worrying about turkey to be travelling abroad then... I went to the UK a couple of years ago on the Tues before Thanksgiving and the plane was really empty.

robin1234

I don't think we worry about turkey -- we typically salivate in anticipation of turkey?

greggx101

Not any more...for some reason.

We were going to do that this year but prices are same or 10 dollar cheaper than peak.